Taxonomy, ecology, and behavior of the sooty ant-tanager (Habia gutturalis) and other ant-tanagers (Aves). American Museum novitates ; no. 2480

Abstract:

"Morphological and behavioral differences among the allopatric red-throated (Habia fuscicauda), black-cheeked (H. atrimaxillaris), and sooty (H. gutturalis) ant-tanagers suggest that they are separate species. Only the first species has strong sexual dimorphism; only the second has courtship feeding; and only the third has a rapid 'chatter.' All three forage diversely, capturing insects and fruit, but stay low in woodland undergrowth; all follow army ants. Crested (H. cristata) and red-crowned (H. rubica) ant-tanagers forage diversely but stay high in the undergrowth. Northern red-crowns 'chatter' and make thin nests; southern ones chirp and make leafy nests. Possibly they are separated genetically because those from Colombia south center breeding in the austral summer; those from Colombia north, in the boreal summer. Sympatric ant-tanagers diverge and narrow their foraging niches little more than they do when separate. Possibly ecological counterparts or combinations of specialized species replace the missing ant-tanagers where only one or no ant-tanager is present, and thus restrict their geographical and ecological ranges. The ant-tanagers forage rather adaptably, but adaptation to certain strata of leafy undergrowth limits them on one side and failure to oust specialized species, such as antbirds over army ants, limits them on the other. For ant-tanagers, medium adaptation and adaptability go with medium-height forest habitats"--P. [1].

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American Museum NovitatesNovitates (Latin for "new acquaintances"), published continuously and numbered consecutively since 1921, are short papers that contain descriptions of new forms and reports in zoology, paleontology, and geology. New numbers are published at irregular intervals.